Universal Studios Hollywood is called the Entertainment Capital of Los Angeles for a reason. Between its world famous Studio Tour, action-packed thrill rides like Transformers: The Ride 3D, behind the scenes shows like the Special Effects Show, and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a day at Universal Studios Hollywood seems like a no brainer.

But without a proper plan, a day at Universal Studios Hollywood can quickly careen out of control with insane crowds, huge queues and crazy prices. To us, that isn’t acceptable. If you’re lucky enough to spend a day at Universal Studios Hollywood, we want to arm you with the best possible knowledge and tools to provide you and your family with the best possible experience. You’ll find everything you need to know here in the CI Universal Hollywood Center.

Important tip: Rely on our table of contents! If you ever feel lost amongst our hundreds of pages dedicated to Universal Hollywood trip planning, just click the “CI Universal Hollywood Center” banner at the top of any page to return to the table of contents.

Here are a few easy steps to get you started on planning your perfect Universal Studios Hollywood vacation.

STEP 3: Explore the Upper and Lower Lot attractions to get a feel for what’s available in the park.

STEP 4: You’ll now have a fairly solid idea of the fundamentals of Universal Studios Hollywood. Check out our crowd calendar (coming this week) to evaluate the crowd levels on the day of your visit. Pay special attention to any holidays or special events going on during your visit.